Loom for forming flexible conduits.



N0. 684,30l. Patented 00L 8, |9l. H. G. USBURN.

LOOM FOR FOBMING FLEXIBLE GONDUITS.

(Application filed June 19, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

lli l No. 634,3m. Patented'oct. 8, Ism. H. G. osBuRN.

LDDM FDR FORMING FLEXIBLE CUNDUITS.

(Application led June 19, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

TN: wams PETERS cu, vnoroumo.. wAsumsron u c No. 684,30I. Patented 06f. 8, |90I. H. G. DSBURN.

LOOM FOB FOBMING FLEXIBLE CONDUITS.

Mmm

(Applieation lad June 19, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES HARRY G. OSBURN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO OSBURN FLEXIBLE PATENT OFFICE.

LOOM FOR FOYRMING FLEXIBLE CONDUITS. y

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,301, dated October 8, 1901.

Application filed June 19, 1899.

To /ZZ whom it may con/cern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY G. OsBURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Looms for Forming Flexible Conduits, of which the following is a full, clear, concise,and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a loom for forming flexible conduits. In Letters Patent No. 652,806, granted July 3, 1900, I have disclosed and claimed a flexible conduit adapted for electrical conductors comprising a Woof Wound into helical form and having interwoven therewith a series of Warp-threads.

The present invention relates to a loom for forming the conduits above referred to.

The Woof, which is Wound into a helix to constitute the body of the conduit, may be formed of any suitable material possessing the necessary iiexibility and rigidity of structure-such as fiber, heavy paper, cane, and the likewhile the Warps maybe made of any suitable materialsuch, for instance, as cotton or other thread. In accordance with the present invention I provide mechanism for Winding the Woof into the form of a helix and provide a plurality of supports for the Warps arranged to move the warps alternately into and out of the path of the Woof, whereby the Warps alternately engage the interior and exterior surfaces of the convolutions of the Woof. In practice I have mounted the Woofsupport upon a revolving frame, the support having an arm carrying suitable guides Which serve during the revolution of the support to wind the Woof about a suit-able spindle. The Warp-supports are arranged to be moved alternately to opposite sides of the path of the Woof-support, whereby the Warp-threads are moved alternately into and out of the path of the Woof, so that in the completed structure the warp-threads restalternately against the inner and the outer faces of the convolntions of the Woof. I preferably arrange the Warpf supports so that during one revolution of theV Woof-support the Warp-supports are upon one side of the path of the Woofsupport and are upon the other side of said path during the Serial No. 721,036. (No model.)

succeeding revolution. By this arrangement each warp-thread is placed in contact with the inner face'of one convolution of the Woof and in contact with the outer face of the adjacent convolution. Vhere desired, the Warp-supports may be moved at greater intervals, so as to cause the Warp-threads to overlap a plurality of convolutions of the Woof. rlhe changes necessary to accomplish this will be obvious from the description hereinafter contained.

While I have shown a machine employing a single Woof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of a single Woof.

My invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is aview in elevation, partially in section, of the machine of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view illustrating the crossing of the guiding-tracks. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the machine. Fig. 4 is a detail View of the arm for supporting one of the guidingrollers. Fig. 5 is a detail View of one of the guides for the Warp-threads. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views illustrating the conduit in the process of formation. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the spools containing the Warpthreads. Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 11 l1, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail View of the guiding mechanism for the completed conduit. Fig. 1l is a sectional view on line 9 9, Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail View of the meehanism for supportingand guiding the Woof.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures. y

Upon the hase or support a is mounted the bracket a, in which is supported a vertical sleeve a2. The driving-pulley b is mounted upon a shaft b', carrying at the end a bevelgear b2, meshing with a bevel-gear b3, journaled to rotate about the sleeve a2 and connected to the frame b4, which is rotated thereby. The frame h4 carries the standard b5, upon which the spool h6, carrying the Woof, isV supported. Upon the standard b5 is also carried the arm 57, which supports the guiding-rollers for the Woof. The frame b4 also supports, by means of vertical rods hs hs, guiding-tracks b9 h1. As the frame h4 rotates,

' the guiding-tracks b9 and hw and the spool b,

carrying the Woof and the arm 57, are all carried around together. Upon the upper end of the sleeve u2 the'frame c is mounted, and this frame carries a series of standards c d. A pair of plates c2 c2 is supported upon each standard and guided therein, the plates being held in position by the overhanging plates cJl c4. (Shown more clearly in Fig. 9.) As shown in Fig. 8, an axle or shaft c3 is supported upon each of the sliding plates c2, upon which the spool c5, carrying the warp-thread, is mounted. Upon the plate c2 is a projecting arm c6, upon the end of which is a spring c7, pivoted at cs, which normally rests against the side of the spool to retard the motion thereofvand place the warp-thread under tension. lVhen itis desired to remove the spools, the spring c7 may be rotated about its pivot c8 to permit the removal of the spool from the axle c3. The warp-thread as it passes from the spool passes between a pair of disks o9 010, the disk o9 being mounted upon the end of a shank c, while the disk C10 is loosely mounted thereon and pressed toward the disk o9 by means of a coiled spring cl2. The disk c10 may thus yield under pressure from the warpthread while serving to maintain the same under tension. To the sliding plate c2 a semicircular frame cl3 is secured by means of screws c C14, and upon this frame the shank c11 of thewarp-guiding device is supported. Upon said frame c13 an arm c is pivoted, which arm carries upon the end the guidingroller-C15. A lug 016 upon the rearv of the arm c1YL vibrates between screws C17 and cls, whereby the arm c14 may rise and fall to accommodate the varyinglength of the slack portion of the warp-thread during the operation of the machine. By adjusting the screws c1'7 and 018 any desired movement of the arm c14 may be permitted. Upon the lower end of the frame 013 a tongue c19 is provided, whichA is rotatably mounted upon a shank c2", carried upon the end of said frame cl3, a screw @2L being adapted to lie in a peripheral slot 022, provided upon the shank c20 to prevent the removal of the tongue while permitting the rocking thereof. The tongue cw'ts in the groove or slot provided in the guiding-tracks Z719 bm'. b9 and bw' intersect upon one side, so that the tongue 019 after traveling around the track b9 will pass by the incline shown in Fig. 2 into the slot of track bw'and after passing around track bw will pass by the descending incline intorthe slot of track b9 again. Consequently during one rotation of the frame carrying the guiding-tracks the tongue cw, belonging to any particular warp-thread, will be held in a lowered position due to its engagement with the slot of track b9, and upon the succeeding rotation due to its engagement with the slot of track blo it will be raised into the extreme upper position and lowered again. Above the standards c c and in line therewith are the series of standards d df, one for each of the standards c', the same being sup- As shown in Fig. 2, the guiding-tracksV ported upon the frame d, which is supportedY upon the main frame a3. The standard d' is similar in construction to standard'c and 1s provided upon each side with plates d4 d4,

which form the outer walls of a guidewayV within which the sliding plate c2 is adaptedrto move. When the tongue C19 travels in the slotV of track b0,the plate c2 is moved upward to the A space is left between the op-V standard d.

posed ends of the strands c and CZ to accommodate the passage of the arm b?, which supby the position of the guiding-rollers g4 957g i;

may be varied. A spindle or rod h is supported in the upper end of the sleeve a2,

Upon the end of the arm 1171i Y about which spindle the Woof is adapted to be wound as the armqb?, guiding the Woof,V :.Jfr'd' travels around the spindle.` SurroundingY the spindle in a frame h', having an apertureY h2 slightly larger in diameter than the completed conduit, and the conduit thus formed i.; .Y

passes upward through the annular space left between the spindle and the opening h2. Y Y

A plurality of rubber-tired rollers h3 713 are adapted to press against the Vconduit as the same is fed upward to prevent the twisting i of the conduit during formation. The roller h3 is carried upon an arm h4, pivoted at h5 and provided with an adjusting-screw h?,

k3, which is connected, through the intermediate gear 104, with the shaft ks, geared to the main driving-shaft Z9 by the bevel-gears k6V la7. Thegearing between the driving-shaft and the drum is such as'to wind the conduit upon the drum as fast as the same is formed.-

The operation of the loom is as follows: Y The spools containing the warp-threads areV placed in position and the spool upon one side 0E each rstandard is arranged withpthe'y IOQ 'Y Y whereby the position of the roller may beadj j usted. The frame h is secured to the sleeve v k7 by means of the set-screw 77.8, andthe sleeve k7 is secured to the frames d andy a3 by means Y The completed conduitV n 7c after passing through the sleeve 71.7 is` wound around the drum it', the drum-carry@ Y. ing a gear-wheel k2, meshing with the Worm;V

tongue thereof in the slot of the lower track,- 5

while the spool upon the opposite side of the standard is arranged with the tongue in the Y i slot 'of track Z110, so that the spool upon one side of each standard is in the lower position,

while the spool upon the other side is in the upper position. The warp-threads are passed over the guiding-rollers, as shown. The Woof is' supported upon the standard b3 and passes bet'ween'the guiding-rollers, as shown. the machine is operated the frame b4 rotates, thus carrying the Woof around the spindle and Winding the same thereon. ward movement of the conduit as formed The up-k f r ASV xi.

causes the woofto assume the form of a helix. .Y Y i" As shown more clearly in Fig. 6,'thewoof f is passed during one revolution between the warp-threads Z and m, the woof passing over the top of the thread m, while the threadl is raised out of the path of the woof. Upon the next revolution, as shown in Fig. 7, the warp-thread Z has been moved into the lower position, and as the Woof is wound around the spindle it is passed over the top `of thread Z, while the thread m is raised upward out of the path of the Woof. Upon the succeeding revolution the thread m will again be in position beneath the woof, and each warpthread is thus placed alternately beneath and above the Woof-thread, whereby the warp is interwoven with the helical Woof. The raising and the lowering of the warp-threads are accomplished, as above described, by the engagement of the tongues C19 with the slots in the tracks band bw. During one revolution the tongue travels in the slot of track b9, which is horizontal, and is thus maintained in the lowered position. During the next revolution the tongue travels in the slot of track blo, and is thus raised during the rst half of the revolution and lowered to the initial position during the second half of therevolution.

By the above construction, wherein the woof is fed to the spindle at an angle to the axis thereof, the flat or ribbon-like Woof is prevented from buckling or twisting and lies flat against the spindle, whereby the same may readily pass through the annular space between the spindle and the bore in which the spindle is adapted to rest. It will be found that it will be necessary to vary the angle for different widths of material, and accordingly the part g3, carrying the guidingrollers, is rotatably mounted upon the end of the Woof-support bl, whereby the angle at which the Woof is conveyed to the spindle may be varied and adjusted at will. f

It will be noted that the revolving endless track serves topositively move the warp-su pports from one position to another, and,moreover, it will be noted that the warp-supports serve to carry the warps not only to opposite sides of the path of the Woof, but also to opposite sides of a plane passing through the intersections of the warps and perpendicular to the axis of the spindle. Accordingly when the warp-supports reach the ends of their travel the warps are drawn taut and are pulled in opposite directions, wherebyv the warps are caused to lirlnly grasp the convolutions of the Woof to bind the same in position. lVhen a pliable Woof, such as thread, is employed, it is possible to weave the same with the warps extending to one side of a plane passing through the intersections of the warps perpendicular to the axis of the helix, since the pliable woof seems to gradually creep into position. When, however, a flat or ribbonlike Woof is employed, l have found that this creeping effect does not take place, and therefore it is necessary to pass the warps alternately to opposite sides of the perpendicular plane above mentioned. Moreover, it is necessary to positively move the Warp-supports from one position to another in order to make the warps taut, and thereby securely bind the same about ,the convolutions of the Woof.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a loom, the combination with means for forming the Woof into a helix, of supports for the warps, and means for positively moving said warp-supports to opposite sides of the path of said woof and to opposite sides of a plane passing through the intersections of the warps, and perpendicular to the axis of said helix, whereby the warps are drawn taut by the warp-supports as the same pass to the opposite ends of their travel to thereby cause the warps vto securely grasp and bind in position the successive convolutions of the Woof, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a revolving woofsupport and coperating means for forming the Woof into 'a helix, of a plurality of pairs of standards between the opposite ends of which said Woof-support is adapted to travel, supports for the warps mounted upon said standards, a revolving endless track adapted to engage and positively move said Warpsupports alternately from one side of the path of said Woof-support to the other to carry the warps to opposite sides of a plane passing through the intersections of the warps and extending perpendicular to the axis of said helix, whereby the warps are caused to securely and tightly grasp the successive convolutions of the Woof and bind the same in position, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a Woof-support and coperating means for forming a flat or ribbon-like Woof into a helix, of supports for the warps, and means for positively moving the same to opposite sides of the path of said Woof, said Woof-support being adapted to pass the Woof to the said helix at an angle to the axis thereof, whereby the Woof is formed into a helix without causing the same to twist or buckle, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a Woof-support and coperating means for forming the woof into a helix, of a plurality of pairs of standards between the opposed ends of which said Woof-support is adapted to travel, supports for the warps mounted upon said standards, a revolving endless track adapted to engage and positively move said warp-supports from one side of the path of said Woof to the other, and guiding means carried upon said Woofsupport for passing the Woof to said helix at an angle to the axis thereof, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a Woof-support and coperating means for forming a fiat or ribbon-like woof into a helix, of warp-supports and means for positively moving the same alternately to opposite sides of the path IOO IIO

of said Woof, and means associated with said Warp-support for varying at will the angle at which said woof is passed tosaid helix, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a revolving woofsupport and coperating means for forming a iiat or ribbon-like woof into a helix, of supports for the warps and means for positively moving the same alternately from one side of the path of said Woof to the other, and a part carrying suitable guiding-surfaces for the Woof and rotatably mounted upon the end of said wootsupport, whereby the angle at which the Woof is passed to said helix may be varied at will, Substantially as described.

7. The combination with a revolving support for the Woof, of a plurality of pairs of standards extending perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said support between the opposite ends of which said Woof-support is adapted to pass, supports for` the warps mounted to move from one standard of a pair to the other,V two of said supports being mounted upon opposite sides of each pair of standards, and an endless track rotating with the Woof-supports and engaging said warp-Y Y supports to move the same, substantially as described.

S. The combination with a spindle aboutV 'j V3oV j! 1 f which a fabric is adapted to be formedgof means for drawing the finished product from the machine and a roller having a cushioned i periphery adapted to engage said fabric toV Y Y prevent the twisting of the same about said'V Y f spindle, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a spindle h aboutY which a fabric is adapted to be formed, offVVV the pivoted levers h4- provided at one end said lever, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereuntov sube fi scribed my name in the presence of two wit- Y- HGSSGS.

\Vitnesscs:

NV. CLYDE JONES, M. R. ROCHFORD.

HARRY e. osBURN; Y 

